Entries in plug-in
(313)

New kids on the block and boutique developers GoodHertz have just announced AAX support for their plug-ins including their Faraday Limiter which they describe as a peak limiter with a big transformer sound and even better news is that it is free at the moment. So check it out and let us know what you think of it.

What’s In A Name?

Named after the inventor of the electrical transformer, Faraday Limiter’s analog-modeled input/output transformers are responsible for its beefy, harmonically-rich sound. The limiter circuit is smooth yet lively — it can pump faster and further than any limiter we’ve ever heard while retaining its characteristic punch and warmth. Faraday Limiter sounds great on buses, individual instruments, vocals, dialog, etc. and allows for a level of timbral shaping and tonal coloration that can’t be achieved with any other dynamics processor.

A1StereoControl plugin you will be able to expand or limit the STEREO WIDTH of your tracks using only one single knob. This powerful technique can be used on single tracks or groups tracks while mixing or even on a master bus in final mastering situations.

We like to take plug-ins modelled on vintage hardware and compare them with the original.

In this audio shoot out we’ve put the Waves dbx160 against our own hardware unit. There are 4 instruments with A, B and C versions. A is the original audio, then B and C is either the software or the hardware. Simply pick the one you prefer the sound of, in a few days time we will let you know which one is which.

Now pick which you prefer. There is no right or wrong answer, simply a preference.

The original dbx 160 was considered by many as one of the best drum compressors. The dbx 160 compressor was used in almost every major recording in the late ‘70s and throughout the ‘80s, and later models in the 160 series became industry standards.

The Waves 160 plug-in has been created in collaboration with dbx, has resulted in an authentic-sounding software version of this iconic piece of hardware. In addition to the meticulous modeling of the vintage compressor, the Waves dbx 160 plug-in incorporates unique and exclusive features not found in the original hardware, such as Waves’ MS Matrix, mix and noise controls, and a stereo component.

Waves are also offering their 160 plug-in for a special introductory price of $99 for either the Native or SoundGrid version for a short period of time before the price will revert to the normal price of $150.

Excalibur Is Here

Today they have ended the speculation and announced that their latest plug-in is an multi-effects unit called Excalibur.

In chatting to the Exponential team they have told us that during development their testers and previewers have compared Excalibur to many classic studio effects units, but why don’t you decide which ones when you hear it? They love the idea of emulation, but they wanted to take that and build on it, adding all the things you could have never have done with the original hardware units. Trusted industry professionals who have previewed Excalibur told us….

In this show & tell video review James takes a look and listen to the new Focusrite Red 2 EQ and Red 3 Compressor that are now bundled with many Focusrite interface and are available to existing registered owners of a Focusrite interface too. James wanted to explore if it was possible to mix a track only only using the Red 2 & Red 3 plug-ins.

To answer that question, he tries this approach on a guitar led rock track with vocals. Watch as James takes you on a tour of the GUI and shows off some go the plug-in presets and applies his ideas to these powerful yes affordable plug-ins.

The Red 2 hardware is derived from the ISA 215 equalizer circuits, initially designed for the Focusrite Forte console with it’s 6-band configuration with high and low-pass filters.

The Red 3 hardware uses the same circuit topology as the ISA130 compressor module, based around an innovative proprietary VCA design that earned Focusrite a TEC award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in Signal Processing Technology. The unique implementation utilises three VCAs in series on the side chain to achieve true compression followed by limiting.

The Red 2 and Red 3 plug-ins faithfully reproduce the sonic qualities of the hardware, allowing you to get detailed dynamic and tonal control of your mix, and tap into the classic ‘Red’ sound.

We are hearing reports that some users are having problems with this great free tool that helps us to make sure we have the latest versions of all our plug-ins for Pro Tools.

The problem is that when you come to scan your system Plugin Update reports that…

You not connected to the internet. Plugin Update will not be able to to re-scan for updates, or perform other online tasks.

However the computer is very much connected to the internet. I found this problem after I updated to Yosemite but I cannot be sure that was the issue. Community member Bertrand Grichting reported the same problem and he is running OSX 10.8.5 on a MacPro 2008 and Ben Rubin reported the same problem on a Mac Pro through the Disqus comments.

We reached out to the team at Plugin Update and they checked several systems and it is working fine, so we would appear to have a problem that doesn’t affect everyone. So to help the small team behind Plugin Update can you help?

If you have Plugin Update, can you try using it and report in the comments below if it works or you get this error message and also please tell us what computer you have, what version OS you are using, and what version of Pro Tools you are using.

While we all enjoy playing with photo-realistic plug-in versions of classic gear, I think all of us realise that using a picture of a Fairchild might not be the most complete exploration of what computers can do for audio. In spite of all of the lovingly modelled 1176s, there is plenty of innovation in plug in design. From “impossible” plug-ins which do something previously unachievable, to examples of excellent design, where companies mange to identify and address something lacking in the design of currently available processors. Here are some examples of plug-ins which offer something genuinely new, either in what they achieve or how they achieve it.

James from Pro Tools Expert talks with Tobias from Lindell to talk about their new 500 series modules and their new Lindell plug-in.Tobias shows his new Lindell 77X-500 stereo buss compressor, the Lindell EVO-6, Lindell MID500 and the new 2254 plug-in emulation.

Lindell 77X-500 stereo buss compressor

With all the same impressive features as its little brother, the 7x-500, the Lindell Audio 77x-500 is a Stereo Compressor with classic “1176 Sound” that can be smooth and mellow or a melt your face rocker.

Lindell EVO-6 microphone preamplifier

Our new EVO-6 microphone preamplifier is an all discrete design. Transformer couple I/O’s. Vintage 1731 amps. It sounds very creamy and punchy. It features old school hifi tone controls. Again all discrete and with inductor.

Lindell 254E Plug-in

The 2254 emulation is a plug-in version of this vintage diode bridge compressor/limiter and they have made this plug in for $125.